Catch



.Feb. 29, 1944. BORCHERS 2,342,832

" CATCH Filed Aug. 15, 1941 uaqiumim m ll arZ 50PM? Patented Feb. 29, 1944- rreo STATE s PAT NT- orrice CATCH Earl Bombers, Rockford, 111., assignor to American Cabinet Hardware Corporation, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois 11 Claims.

The invention relates generally to catches and more particularly to a spring catch for use on sheet metal cabinets.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel catch for use with sheet metal cabinets, which is of inexpensive construction and may be assembled on the cabinet by a simple inserting operation. It is also an object to provide a novel catch primarily retained in place in the wall of a cabinet by its own resiliency and permanently held against accidental dislodgement.

Another object is to provide a novel catch of one-piece construction retained in the wall of a cabinet by its own resiliency and having in connection therewith a face plate provided with adapted to be mounteddn the wall of a sheet metal cabinet and retained therein by its own resiliency, the catch being constructed so that it may be inserted in place from the front face of the wall.

Other objects and advantages will become ap- I parent from the following description taken in connection with the accompa y ng. drawing, in

which: i

Figure l is a perspective view of a catch embodying the features of the invention, with parts thereof disassembled.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the catch shown in Fig. 1 with the catch assembled in the cabinet and the strike in retaining relation with the catch.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view looking at the face of the wall in which the catch is inserted, with the catch mounted therein.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but of a modified form of catch constructed so that it may be inserted from the front.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the catch shown in Fi 5. a

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the aper ture in the wall of the cabinet adapted to receive the catch shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 but of another modified form of catch.

A catch embodying the features of the invention comprises generally a'strip of resilient sheet metal bent generally into the shape of a U. In-

receiving jaws. Preferably such jaws are formed by slitting the arms of the U and bending portions formed thereby inwardly into opposed relation between the arms. The catch isadapted to be secured to the wall of a cabinet by having end portions of the arms inserted through an'aperture in the wall. Such aperture provides an opening through whibh a strike may be inserted for engagement with the jaws. The resiliency of the catch holds it in place in the aperture, and to prevent the catch from being sprung so that it could fall out of the aperture, means is provided for preventing the jaws from springing, which means is held in place by the catch itself.

In the drawing I have shown for purposes of illustration fragmentary parts of a cabinet comprising a front wall I on which the catch is mounted and a door H adapted to carry a strike l2 of well-known form. The strike is adapted to pass through an aperture in the wall ifl, upon closing the door, and tohave its inner end engaged and retained by the catch.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a strip i3 of resilient sheet metal preferably bent generally into the form of a U. Each arm of the U is slit as at it to provide portions adapted to be bent inwardly between the arms of the U in opposed relation to provide a pair of strike-receiving jaws IS.

The catch is adaptedto be inserted in an aperture in a wall of a cabinet such as the front wall "I, and to be retained therein by the resilience of the two arms of the U. To this end, the front wall It is provided with an aperture 16, preferably rectangular, through which the strike 12 may be inserted for engaging the jaws 15. The aperture I i is-of less height than the width of the arms l3 but is of suflicient height to permit passage therethrough of a pair of tongues l1 formed on the ends of the arms 13 andbent laterally outward. To insert the catch, the arms of the U are pinched together sufliciently to permit the tongues H to pass through the aperture 15. After the tongues have been passed through the aperture ii, the arms of the U are permitted to spring apart so that the tongues i I lie fiat against the front face of the wall ill at the respective sides of the aperture, and the portions or the ends of the arms at either side of each tongue. indicated at l8, abut against the inner or rearface of the wall"! 0. Thus the catch by its own resilience tends to remain in place, and when the strike is inserted or when it is withdrawn, the spreading of the jaws thereby increases the tendency of the catch to remaininplace. I

Normally the resilience of the jaws is sufiicient to retain the catch in the wall Ill. However, should one of the Jaws of the catch be inadvertently struck, the catch might be knocked out oi its assembled relation with the wall. Thus, in the case of use of this catch with a kitchen cabinet, which is often dusted, the housewifes dust cloth might catch on one of the tongues l1 and snap it out of place so that the catch would be loosened from the wall.

To prevent such an occurrence, I provide means for permanently holding the catch in place. Preferably such means is held in place by the tongues l1 and is provided with readily bendable portions adapted to prevent inward springing of the tongues II. In its preferred form such means comprises a rectangular plate having an aperture 2| substantially the size of the aperture l6 and adapted to lie flat against the front fac of the wall III with the two apertures l6 and'2l in alinement. When the tongues H are inserted through the aperture 6, they are likewise inserted through aperture 2| in the plate 20. With the catch in place, the side portions of the plate 20 thus underlie the tongues l1.

Formed from the metal punched from the aperture 2| are readily bendable portions comprising lugs 22 extending from the upper and lower marginal edges of the aperture 2|. When the plate is first formed, such lugs extend forwardly so that the tongues may be inserted through the aper ture 2|. After the catch and plate 20 are in place with the tongues sprung laterally to overlie the plate, the lugs 22 are then bent into the aperture 2| between the tongues so as to hold them against inward springing. The catch is thus permanently held in place so that it cannot be accidentally snapped out of position.

The modified form of catch shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, is constructed so that it may be inserted from the front of the wall iii. In the construction of .certain cabinets, the rear face of the wall I0 is not'accessible because of the cabinet structure. In this modified form the catch itself is of the same construction as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and is provided with the same laterally extending tongues II.

The aperture in the wall l0, indicated at 24, is of suflicient height to permit the passage therethrough of the arms of the U-shaped catch member so that the whole catch may be inserted from the front. The aperture 24 is so shaped that after the catch has been inserted it may spring laterally to permit the ends of the arms of the U to abut the rear face of the wall Ill. To this end, the aperture 24 is provided at each side thereof with notches 25 of a width suflicient to receive the tongues I! and permit them to extend therethrough. I

In conjunction with this structure, I may use a rectangular face plate 26 having an aperture 21 of a height sufllcient to receive the tongues II. To assemble the catch, the arms of the U are squeezed together to permit the tongues l'l to be inserted through aperture 21, as shown in Fig. 6.

The 'catch is then pushed inwardly through the aperture 24 and when fully inserted, the arms of the U snap laterally so that the tongues exaseaesc wardly, I provide a plurality of lugs 28, similar to the lugs 22, which may be bent in between the tongues II to prevent their inward springing- Thus the tongues are heldin the notches 2S and they could slip through .the aperture 24.

In Fi 9 I have shown another modified form of the construction which is similar to Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, except that the lugs 28 have been omitted. However, the structure shown in thisfigure has the advantage of being able to be inserted into the wall from the front face thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a catch which is of one-piece construction having strike-receiving Jaws formed integrally from the strip of metal constituting the catch proper. The catch'is so constructed that it may be inserted into the wall of a cabinet merely by squeezing the .arms of the U-shape form thereof together to permit passage of their end portions through the strike-receiving aperture. When so inserted, the resiliency of the catch causes the arms of the U to spread laterally and thereby be retained in place in the wall. By utilizing a face plate of the character herein shown, provided with means such as the lugs 22, the catch may be permanently retained without danger of its being accidentally snapped out of position.

In the form of device shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, as well as the device shown in Fig. 9, the aperture in the wall is of sufllcient size to permit the catch to be inserted from the front. After the catch has been snapped into place, the arms thereof spread laterally so that the ends thereof abut against the rear face of the wall. The face plate with its lugs 28 holds the catch against inward springing and thus prevents it from accidentally being withdrawn through the aperture in the wall.

I claim as my invention:

1. A catch of the character described comprising, in combination, a strip of spring metal bent into a U-shape with portions of each arm of the U shaped for engagement by a strike, the ends of the arms of the U 'being bent outwardly for insertionthrough an aperture in the cabinet wall and adapted to overlie the front face thereof, and an apertured face plate lying between the outwardly bent portions of the arms and the front face of the wall with the arms extending therethrough, said face plate being provided with readily bendable lugs extending into the aperture in the plate to prevent inward springing of the arms of the U.

2. A catch of the character described comprising a U-shaped member of spring metal having strike-receiving jaws formed from the respective arms of the U, the ends of the arms having outwardly bent tongues adapted to extend through an aperture in the cabinet wall, and a face plate having an aperture substantially coextensive with the aperture in the cabinet wall and adapted to lie against the front face of the wall under said tongues, said face plate having a plurality of readily bendable lugs extending into the aperture of the plate to prevent movement of the tongues toward each other.

3. A catch of the character described comprising a U-shaped catch having strike-receiving jaws formed from the respective arms of the U, the ends of said arms being provided with outwardly bent tongues inser'table through an aperture in the cabinet wall to overlie the front face thereof, and means interposed between said ton ues and the front face of said wall for retaining said catch in place and having readily bendable p011- tions adapted to be bent into the space between said tongues to prevent movement thereof toward each other.

4. A catch of the character described comprising. in'combination, a U-shaped member of spring metal having portions of the arms of the U bent to provide a pair of strike-receiving jaws, the ends of the arms of the U being shaped to interfit with and be resiliently retained in place in an aperture in the cabinet wall, and means retained in place by said ends of the arms and provided with readily bendable lugs bendable into position to prevent movement of the arms toward each other after the catch is-in place.

5. A catch of the character described comprising, in combination, a U-shaped member having strike-receiving jaws formed integrally from the arms of the U with portions of the arms extending through an aperture in the wall of a cabinet and springing laterally to hold the member in place, and means held in place by the engagement of said arms with the wall and having readily bendable means for holding the arms of the U in their laterally sprung position.

6. A catch of the character described comprising a U-shaped member having strike-receiving jams formed from the arms of .the U, said arms having outwardly bent tongues of less width than the arms and insertable through an aperture in the cabinet wall to overlie the front face thereof, said aperture being of less width than said arms, and a face plate having an aperture substantially equal in width to the width of said tongues with side portions of saidface plate underlying said tongues, said face plate having a plurality of lugs formed from the metal punched from said aperture and readily bendable into the aperture in said plate to prevent movement of said tongues toward each other.

7. The combination with a catch of the character described comprising a U-shaped member of spring metal having integral strike-receiving jaws formed from the arms of the. U, the ends of the arms having laterally bent tongues of less width than the arms, said catchbeing insertable through an aperture in the cabinet wall having a width not less than the witdh of the arms with notches at the sides thereof to receive said tongues whereby the catch may be inserted from the front face of the wall and the arms may spring laterally so that the ends of the arms abut against the rear face of the wall at each side of the aperture and the tongues extend through said notches to overlie the front face of the wall, of a face plate provided with an aperture substantially equal in width to the width of said tongues and held by said tongues in place against the front face of said wall, said face plate covering the aperture in the wall except for the aperture in the plate.

8. The. combination with a catch of the character described comprising a U-shaped member having a pairof strike-receiving jaws formed integrally from the arms thereof, said arms hav ing laterally bent tongues at their ends, the cabinet wall having an aperture of sufllcient width for the insertion of the catch therethrough with notches at the side of said aperture of a width to receive said tongues whereby said catch may be inserted through said aperture and the arms may spring laterally with the tongues extending through said notches and overlying the front face of the wall, of a face plate having an aperture of a width to receive said tongues and held under said tongues against the front face of said wall. said face plate covering the aperture in thevwall except for the aperture in the plate.

9. The combination with a catch of the character described comprising a U-shaped member having a pair of strike-receiving jaws formed integrally from the arms of the U, said arms having at their ends laterally bent tongues of less width than the arms, said member being adapted to be inserted through an aperture in the wall of the cabinet with the aperture provided with notches at its side of a width to receive said tongues, of a face plate having an aperture of a width substantially the same as said notches and held against the front face of the wall by said tongues and covering the aperture in the wall except for the aperture in the plate, said face plate having lugs bendable into the space between said tongues to retain the latter in said notches whereby the catch is permanently retained in said wall.

10. The combination with a catch of the character described comprising a U-shaped member having strike-receiving jaws formed integrally from the arms thereof and insertable through an aperture in the wall of a cabinet, said aperture being provided with notches at its side and said arms being provided with tongues adapted to extend through said notches when the arms are inserted through the aperture and spring laterally, of a cover for said aperture held in place by said tongues and having readily bendable means positioned to prevent spring of the arms toward each other.

11. A catch of the character describe'd comprising, in combination, a U-shaped member having strike-receiving jaws formed integrally from the arms of the U and insertable from the front through an aperture in the wall of a cabinet so that said jaws are located at the rear of said wall, the aperture being shaped to permit the arms of the U when fully inserted to springlaterally and thereby prevent forward movement of 00 laterally sprung position.

EARL BORCHERS.

v cnrmnomn or oomonou. new: No. 2,542,352. February 29, 19kb,.

mm; aonomns.

It 1.: hereby certified that the me o! the eelignee 1n the above mmbered. pete t wu erroneously deeozfibed nd. specified. as '!Amerieen cabinet Enrdmre cerpo'ration" Where eeidheme'ehould heve been described. end specified as -'-Amer1o|.n clbinet Eerdwere- Corporation. Roekiord, 1111:1915, e: Roekmrd,

Illinois, s. corpormtLor; ofiIllinoie-w neehown b1 the reoprd oteu ignmen'te in this office page 5, first oolmm'line 51, 616,112: 6, for the word jams reed rjawe and theta the aid Letters Pedzeni; mould be rend with this eermotion thereinhthet the acme y conform to p21; record or the clue in the Patent "031 M v Signed-end "nee pmapn an a: m -A, n. 191m.

Leslie F ra zer- (seel) Acting comieuoner of Patents. 

